Starting with warding off evil and disaster, one can ascend to immortality after countless tribulati

Inside the cave.

Jiang Ming glanced at the small characters on the wall, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

[By the time you see this, it should be the time when the Void Heaven Secret Realm opens again. I unintentionally made a big mistake back then, releasing an evil spirit at the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm.]

Evil spirits lurk in the heart of the secret realm. If you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the peak of your cultivation, you might be able to try sealing them away.

If your cultivation level is only at the mid-stage or early stage, it's best not to approach. Remember this! Remember this!

In my storage bag, there are some treasures. If you take them, you will have to bear the consequences and tell others about the evil deeds.

Let's not allow the horrific scene of the evil spirits massacring the secret realm to repeat itself...

Picking up the storage bag in the corner, Jiang Ming peered inside and indeed found many odds and ends, though hundreds of years had passed.

The elixirs here have lost their potency.

After opening the bottle, you can even smell a strong, bitter odor.

Without the elixirs, the only valuable items left are spirit stones and a few materials, but unfortunately only two of them can be used to forge the Origin Treasure.

All told, Jiang Ming now possesses five precious materials, gathering one-fifth of the essential treasure required.

The task is arduous and the road ahead is long.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivators can perceive cause and effect.

The so-called cause and effect is like a red thread wrapped around oneself, which can guide the fate of cultivators in the dark.

Having accepted the storage bag, Jiang Ming was responsible for conveying the message about the evil spirit to everyone in the secret realm. However, one thing that worried Jiang Ming was...

Evil spirits are not inanimate objects that cannot move!

It is alive and can improve itself.

Moreover, unlike humans, evil spirits have no lifespan limit. In other words, after hundreds of years, their strength may not only not decrease, but may even increase significantly.

If that's really the case, can a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the peak of their cultivation really stop this thing?

A strong sense of unease flashed through Jiang Ming's mind. He took a picture of the words on the wall and then went to the place where the Foundation Establishment cultivators had just fought over the treasure, intending to spread the message.

However, by the time Jiang Ming arrived, the group of cultivators had already dispersed.

Unfortunately, it was too late; he could only sigh helplessly.

Jiang Ming immediately flew into the air on his sword to explore other places.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the Void Heaven Secret Realm.

Master Han Li looked around and was somewhat surprised to see the messy scene.

He was among the first cultivators to enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, and once inside, he was located on the edge of its heartland.

He went through great lengths to break through a weak point in the formation and entered the central palace, only to find that someone had been there before!

What's the difference between this and spending all your wealth to marry a Taoist partner, only to find out that the partner already has two children?

After annoyedly investigating, Master Han Li was naturally unwilling to let the matter rest.

For a cultivator who has reached the Foundation Establishment stage to break through to the Golden Core stage, their comprehension at the Fruit stage must surpass that of the current Golden Core True Monarch.

However, this is almost impossible.

Throughout the ages, only Zhou Jun has accomplished this.

Even though Han Li Zhenren considered himself exceptionally talented, he dared not compare himself to Zhou Jun. This ruler of the Great Zhou Dynasty had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, reaching the Golden Core realm in less than three hundred years.

At that time, the cultivation methods were different from those now, but the value of the Golden Core realm was by no means low.

Surrounded by powerful enemies, Zhou Jun quickly seized power, defeated all his rivals, and dethroned the Tuoba family.

And through the newly established tradition, it replaced the ancient methods of cultivation.

After that, the Golden Core True Monarchs within the Great Zhou Dynasty remained almost permanently frozen in place, unchanged for hundreds of years.

Although the Golden Core True Monarch realm is difficult to attain, a brand new realm, called the Purple Mansion Realm, was created by generations of Foundation Establishment True Monarchs.

This level requires refining a small world and integrating one's own Daoist essence into that small world.

Master Han Li searched everywhere but could not find the small world. Not long ago, he received news from the capital that there was a mysterious pearl in the center of the Void Heaven Secret Realm, called the Heaven-Breaking Pearl.

This contains a fragment of a small world.

If one can obtain it, it has the potential to advance to the Purple Mansion realm.

The reason this treasure wasn't taken away last time the Void Realm opened was because there were many magic arrays blocking it.

However, as a master of array formations, Master Han Li was naturally full of confidence in breaking the array.

But now, it seems someone has taken the lead.

With a sigh, Master Han Li dared not delay and immediately began to break the magic array.

At the same time, a hazy black mist gradually disappeared from the shadows behind them.

……

At this moment, Jiang Ming was frantically running away.

On his journey to collect treasures and spread the news, he encountered the Blood Jade Spider, a strange beast that laid six eggs.

Jiang Ming only accidentally took six, but he didn't expect to anger the ferocious beast, which chased him relentlessly.

The Blood Jade Spider is entirely scarlet, like blood, and has a deep, heavy texture.

Its carapace is as smooth as a finely polished jade disc, shimmering with a cold, hard luster. Its eight long legs are like jade pillars supporting the sky, each segment as sharp as a spear.

At the front of the head and thorax, eight compound eyes are arranged in an arc, each composed of countless fine, blood-jade-like crystalline facets.

The most bizarre feature is its abdomen, where a strange pattern on a huge silk sac resembles a human face, which looks extremely terrifying.

With a roar, the mandibles, shaped like a giant, blood-red scythe, hurtled towards Jiang Ming. When the attack missed, it leaped up alertly and spewed out a net of spider silk, blocking all of Jiang Ming's escape routes.

This thing is incredibly cunning!

After a moment of reflection, Jiang Ming had no choice but to fight. He had been worried that the Blood Jade Spider might activate its ancient bloodline and suddenly cause him a major attack, so he had been retreating all the way, not daring to engage in battle.

Seeing that escape was impossible, he stopped dodging and unleashed the Primordial Sword Formation, shattering the spider silk and stabbing straight at the Blood Jade Spider's most vulnerable abdomen.

Bang!

The longsword struck it, producing a series of sounds like drumming. Unexpectedly, Jiang Ming was very strong, and the Blood Jade Spider suffered a bit of a loss. However, as an ancient beast, its physical body was extremely powerful.

This minor injury had almost no impact on its condition.

With a slight brow furrow, Jiang Ming felt a pang of regret.

If he hadn't coveted the spider eggs, he wouldn't have been chased so badly. Now that he's in such a predicament, even though the eggs are valuable, Jiang Ming doesn't dare take them anymore.

If the noise from the battle attracts other cultivators, it could result in even more severe losses.

"Junior Brother Jiang, I'm here to help you." A calm voice rang out, and Master Han Li appeared in front of Jiang Ming.

With a single flick of his finger, a bloody hole shattered in the upper body of the Blood Jade Spider, and white fluid from its abdomen spilled onto the ground like a flood bursting its banks.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a demonic beast worthy of a life-or-death battle is nothing more than a finger's grasp in the hands of a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator.

The difference in strength is evident.

My name is Jiang Ming. By the time you see this, I am already in dire straits and my life is nearing its end.

When Master Han Li came to help, he dealt with the Blood Jade Spider. Without thinking too much, I took the initiative to tell him about the evil spirit at the Foundation Establishment Perfection stage.

Unexpectedly, the evil spirit that had reached the Foundation Establishment stage possessed Han Li Zhenren.

At this moment, he had become the host of the Foundation Establishment evil spirit. Upon learning that I was going to spread the news, a fierce glint flashed in Han Li Zhenren's eyes, and he instantly killed me.

If I could remain calm and not make a fuss about it, I might have escaped unscathed.

"Junior Brother Jiang? Are you alright?" With a gentle smile, Master Han Li's expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of being corrupted by evil spirits.

"Senior brother, I'm fine. You should go find Master Tianlu. Your cultivation level is high, and the resources you need are precious."

"Taking me along will only be a hindrance..." Jiang Ming smiled simply, his face full of obsequiousness.

Seeing his expression, Master Han Li nodded, not refusing the suggestion, "Alright then, I'll go meet up with the Heavenly Furnace first. If you encounter any danger, come find me anytime..."

Jiang Ming respectfully cupped his hands in thanks, not daring to question, and earnestly expressed his gratitude, "Understood, Senior Brother Han Li, please go and get busy. I wish you success in breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm..."

"Haha, thanks for your kind words, Junior Brother. I'll take my leave now..." Han Li readily agreed and didn't linger any longer, quickly heading off into the distance.

As he watched him leave, the pressure in Jiang Ming's heart gradually lessened.

Fortunately, there was a warning of impending doom; otherwise, unaware of the truth, he would have already been annihilated.

It's unexpected that Master Han Li would meet with such misfortune; it seems this evil spirit has indeed gained power.

In this situation, causality shouldn't matter anymore.

Otherwise, if he doesn't tell others about the evil spirit at the Foundation Establishment stage, he will suffer karmic retribution; if he tells others about Han Li Zhenren's true identity, he will be retaliated against by the evil spirit at the Foundation Establishment stage.

A question arose in his mind. After calculating with his fingers, Jiang Ming indeed discovered that the wisp of cause and effect from before had disappeared.

Instead, a dark cause and effect emerged.

This foreshadows disaster.

Once you expose the identity of the Foundation Establishment evil spirit, you will face terrible retribution.

If you keep quiet about it, the dark causal lines can gradually fade.

It seems that this evil spirit clearly wants to replace Han Li Zhenren rather than be exposed to the public. As long as this bottom line is not crossed, the other party should be willing to continue the performance.

This time, the Void Realm is becoming increasingly complicated.

After a moment of reflection, Jiang Ming immediately headed to the next location to explore. He arrived at a palace and entered through a side door.

Looking at the row of puppets, Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "An array. It seems that to gain any benefits, we have to get past this array."

"Speaking of formations, we can ask the little black snake and Qing'er."

As beings within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, the two could not leave, but they could observe the outside world through Jiang Ming's gaze.

"Master, this formation may seem crude, but it is actually very ingenious. I need to study it before I can conclude whether it can be broken."

After observing carefully, Qing'er spoke with a touch of guilt, feeling embarrassed that she couldn't directly help.

"This formation seems to be the main event. Even if we break the formation, there may be no other treasures."

"The Void Realm is only open for a month, I think we should forget about it." After a careful scan, the little black snake gave a completely opposite suggestion.

After careful consideration, Jiang Ming decided to give it a try, otherwise, even if he spent extra time exploring other areas of the secret realm, he might not gain enough.

In addition, the Void Heaven Palace Secret Realm will be opened gradually.

What's being opened now is just the outermost layer; the real show is yet to come.

After letting Qing'er study it carefully for a while, a look of joy appeared on the girl's face, and she pointed out to Jiang Ming how to break through from several directions one by one.

With swift movements, he manipulated the Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Sword to shatter several puppets, instantly breaking the formation and revealing the treasures inside the room.

This was a very thick iron block, about the size of a human head. After examining it closely for a while, the little black snake was the first to draw a conclusion.

"You've struck gold! This is Purple Gold Divine Iron, which is extremely beneficial for forging Origin Treasures. It's such a large piece that you can even exchange it with other cultivators for a piece of material."

That's like getting two sets of materials!

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Ming put the treasure into his storage bag and, without wasting any time, immediately began exploring other places.

After all, it was the first day of the opening of the Void Heaven Secret Realm. Due to the relatively small area open to the public, the treasures were very limited. Jiang Ming explored several places one after another, but the harvest was not satisfactory.

The next day.

We arrived at a gloomy valley.

Jiang Ming's expression changed slightly upon hearing the wailing of the vengeful ghost.

Instead of being alarmed, he felt rather delighted.

With the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls in hand, he needed the nourishment of these vengeful spirits. So many fierce ghosts were enough to fill the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

When Jiang Ming uses the Myriad Soul Banner, he will be able to unleash even greater power.

With a wave of his hand, the Myriad Souls Banner surged with black energy.

Like a giant vortex, it frantically absorbed the surrounding Yin spirits. The dense Yin energy crashed into Jiang Ming's body and was instantly dispersed by his Dharma body.

Because Jiang Ming's Ten Thousand Soul Banner is not of a high grade.

There is a certain capacity limit, so Jiang Ming stopped working after filling the space of the Myriad Souls Banner to ninety percent.

Otherwise, the little black snake and Qing'er inside wouldn't have enough space to move around.

After absorbing enough Yin spirits, Jiang Ming saw that these useless people were no longer of any use, so he immediately activated the seventy-two Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Swords and charged out in all directions with great momentum.

Golden light emanated, and a sacred aura struck the ghostly spirits, as if subjecting them to torture, causing them to exude a sinister and ghostly aura.

As cries of agony filled the air, the road ahead of Jiang Ming seemed much wider.

With the golden bamboo clearing the way, this section of the road was very smooth, and we encountered almost no obstacles.

Jiang Ming breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the valley.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before him like a ghost and attacked.

In an instant, the impact penetrated the armor and went straight to Jiang Ming's lungs.

Jiang Ming frowned as he sized up the hunched figure in front of him, his heart filled with murderous intent.

Without any prior grudge, this cultivator unleashed a deadly attack. Had Jiang Ming not been wearing specially prepared life-saving armor, he would have suffered injuries in the very first exchange.

This person is absolutely depraved.

"Who are you? Are you looking for death?" Jiang Ming asked, already manipulating his avatar to unleash a punch.

With a chuckle, the old man waved his whisk, conjuring a Tai Chi diagram to calmly deflect Jiang Ming's attack. He then gave a sinister smile and turned to leave.

You think you can just leave after offending me?

With a cold laugh, Jiang Ming summoned the Golden Thunder Bamboo Longsword and activated the Primordial Sword Formation, attacking the old man with lightning speed. Fearing that he might escape again, Jiang Ming threw out a magic array and then indifferently activated it.

The trapping formation was completed as soon as it landed, trapping the old man inside in an instant.

"Kid, don't get so worked up. I was just testing you, why do you have to fight me to the death? Are you sure it's worth it?"

Don't blame me for not reminding you, I'm in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and I haven't tasted a single defeat yet..."

With a hint of silence, Jiang Ming unleashed his Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Sword. He went all out from the start, and as soon as the golden light reached the old man's side, it immediately emitted a scorching black aura.

No, this person is not a cultivator, or even a human!

The skin on his face was ripped off, revealing a hideous and terrifying face to Jiang Ming. This person was actually a demon beast in disguise.

"It's a Ghost-Faced Beast. This thing is quite troublesome, but it fears things like Golden Thunder Bamboo, which is extremely pure and yang. The Tai Chi diagram it just made was the spell of the previous human face's owner."

"This can only be used once. Press your advantage and finish him off! Remember, don't kill him. Hand him over to me and help me reach the peak of the Qi Absorption Realm!"

Having discovered the truth, the little black snake immediately sent a telepathic warning.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming sneered and stared at the Ghost-Faced Beast, which instantly revealed its full form.

In an instant, the enormous phantom flashed with powerful precious light, and coupled with the interference of the Golden Thunder Bamboo, the Ghost-Faced Beast was instantly at a disadvantage.

He was beaten so badly he was treated like a punching bag and was left barely alive.

Jiang Ming's two methods were very effective against the Ghost-Faced Beast. Seeing that he was no match for it, the beast pretended to be calm and put on a show.

Bleeding from all seven orifices, the demon-faced beast was on the verge of death.

Jiang Ming sealed its cultivation and put it into the Myriad Souls Banner for the little black snake to devour.

After crossing the valley, Jiang Ming saw a group of bald, white-robed monks approaching. He frowned and wished he could turn back immediately.

This group of Buddhist monks is truly persistent; I wonder what methods they have that allowed them to gather together so quickly.

Although most of them were in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

In terms of strength, none of them can compare to Jiang Ming.

However, they were Buddhist cultivators, and seven or eight of them were at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, which completely extinguished Jiang Ming's desire to fight.

If he fights with all his might, Jiang Ming will most likely win.

But having no grudge against them, he really didn't want to make enemies with this group of bald monks.

After all, in terms of the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators, they are second only to the cultivators of the Dragon Palace.

In terms of top-tier combat power, they are not lacking either. Making enemies with this group would be unwise.

"Alas! Your methods are pure and yang, and you are very compatible with our Buddhist sect."

One may wish to enter the Buddhist order and cultivate the supreme path of Buddhism.

"If you are willing to join, the Pure Land can make you a Bodhisattva, where you will enjoy high status and be revered by thousands."

I've heard the saying that converting people in the Pure Land is equivalent to killing them.

Jiang Ming quickly shook his head in refusal, while at the same time preparing to fight to the death.

If the other party insists on forcing me to become a monk, then I have no choice but to fight...

"Please don't be anxious, benefactor. There are many misunderstandings about Buddhism outside the world, which I understand. You can consider it carefully."

My invitation to you is valid at any time, and even if you refuse, the Buddhist community will not be displeased.

Of course, at that time, there will be Arhats with even deeper Buddhist teachings who will come to offer advice.

The Void Heaven Secret Realm has only just begun; there's no need for such tension. Farewell, benefactor; we'll meet again.

"Alas!" They chanted the Buddhist mantra in unison.

These Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke with almost no emotion, repeating themselves like machines, before walking side by side into the valley Jiang Ming had just stepped out of.

What are those bald monks doing inside?

There are no treasures here, only countless vengeful spirits?

While wondering, the little black snake seemed to remember something and hurriedly warned, "Hurry up, these bald monks are going to purify all the evil spirits in the mountains. If you hear the chanting, you will be affected too..."

Frowning slightly, Jiang Ming didn't hesitate and immediately turned to leave to find other resources. At the same time, the little black snake also fell silent, concentrating on refining the ghost-faced beast.

On the road.

Just then, Jiang Ming ran into a cultivator from the Dragon Palace. Looking at Ao Lang in the crowd, Jiang Ming frowned. He hadn't expected that after several years, Ao Lang had become a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator and was now considered a minor leader in the Dragon Palace.

He led a few early Foundation Establishment cultivators to search for resources in the surrounding area.

"This place was discovered by my Dragon Palace first. Please get out of the way quickly and do not make any rash moves."

Otherwise, don't blame me, the cultivators of the Dragon Palace, for being impolite.

Jiang Ming didn't take Ao Lang's threat seriously.

Although the opponent was also at the mid-stage of cultivation, he had some understanding of him from their previous encounters. His strength was only considered mid-range among those of the same level, and he was not a threat.

The important thing to note is that Jiang Ming cannot display the methods of the Dharma Body Realm in front of him.

After all, he had caused trouble in the Dragon Palace with this before, and if Ao Lang found out, it would more or less bring some negative effects.

That's why Jiang Ming's first move was a killing blow.

The Primordial Sword Formation took shape suddenly, with the Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Swords condensing into a sword array that instantly surrounded the Dragon Palace cultivators.

"Are you deliberately trying to oppose me? If so, then let me show you the divine power of my Dragon Palace." He glanced coldly at Jiang Ming, seeing that his warning had not been taken seriously.

Ao Lang was somewhat annoyed and immediately transformed into a dragon!

After a clear whistle, a vast and mighty light of tribulation swept in, and the few early Foundation Establishment cultivators also joined in, each displaying their unique abilities.

With Ao Shu's guidance, Jiang Ming was fully aware of the weaknesses of these supernatural abilities. Because of this, he had long prepared a meticulous method to counter these spells.

boom!

Several beams of light exploded in front of Jiang Ming. Seeing that Jiang Ming was completely unharmed, without the slightest injury, Ao Lang's eyes widened in shock. "How is this possible!"

Why do you know so much about the methods of my Dragon Palace?

Ignoring his question, Jiang Ming smiled gently, "If you know what's good for you, then give up the opportunity. You don't want to suffer casualties for nothing, do you?"

His face turned ashen, and he glared fiercely at Jiang Ming.

Ao Lang gritted his teeth but had to suppress his anger. "You're ruthless. This isn't over. Once I've completed my Foundation Establishment in the Dragon Palace and finished my work, you'll be in for a world of hurt."

You were given a chance to run, and you still dare to threaten me?

Jiang Ming glanced sideways at Ao Lang, then manipulated the Primordial Sword Formation, condensing it into an attack stance. "I'll be waiting..."

As the sword flashed, Ao Lang looked at his bleeding chest and immediately dared not utter any more arrogant words. After transforming into human form, he immediately led his fellow clansmen away.

"Kid, don't think I'm afraid of you. If I weren't worried about these juniors, I would definitely fight you three hundred rounds to settle things!"

Seeing Ao Lang flee in disarray, yet still unable to resist boasting and saving face, Jiang Ming scoffed but didn't take it to heart.

In the Void Realm, time is precious, and it's not worth wasting too much time on someone like that.

He stepped forward and searched through the treasures that Ao Lang had just acquired.

Looking at the gleaming light, Jiang Ming couldn't help but show his delight!

Another treasure material!

Although it's still a long way from creating a primordial treasure, this small gain has already made the move worthwhile...